Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-13
A GREAT BIG FRAUD.
q" BIG PINLAY, POLITICAL FRAUD AND
GENERAL RASCAL
His Exploits In London-HOw Ee Imposed on the
FlnanclerS-HOw He Took the American Poll
tcians in, Including the Late Samuel ].
Tldsn-A Gorgeous Dsad Beat


Tlden-A Gorgeous Dsad Beat
NEW YORK, January IA special from
Washington gives an account of the career
of noted American fraud. The adventur-
er's name is Henry H. Finlay. He be-
longs to the higher rank of Judges and
Colonels who infest Washington and who
live upon the incredulity of simple
minded people. Mr.. Finlay left Washing
ton several menths ago under cloud. He
was officially connected with the Anglo
American Insurance Company, which had
as a capital stock in trade marble counter
and plate glass window. 1t was said of
this company that it took in premiums
and issued policies upon the most liberal
terms until serious loss came to the Of
fee for payment and then the office closed.
The authorities here finally got after the
company, and nearly a year ago the ofii-
cials scattered in various directions. Fin
lay went to London, the president of the
company to Mexico and Others connected
with the company went in other direc-
| tons And now comes the news from
London that Finlay has appeared in that
city, and that he is making free with tall
stories about his reasons for being there.
He has represented himself rs holding
different positions under the United States
| = -
tions have been made publicly and Others
have been communicated in dis
Greet confidence. To one gentleman he has
asserted that he was Mr.. Tilden's cOntiden-
| tial agent and that to him was conflded the
care and disbursement of the campaign
| fund expended for Nr. Tilden in 1876.
Then, for the purpose, apparently, OF Great
ing a strong impression OF his greatness at
home, he has represented that he is in Lon
don on special and private mission for
Mr.. Bayard, for whom he has q high regard.
This special and private mission is one
of inspection of the different consulates and
the legation, and it is made particularly to
enable the State Department, upon his re-
port, to decide who should be retained and
who put out.
GULLING THE LONDON FINANCIERs.
He seems to have inspired men of bust
ness with u degree of confidence in him
that he has allowed them to listen and be-
lieve when he told bankers and tinanciers
that Secretary Manning sent him to Lon
don ito get the feeling of the tinancitrs in
the great financial center of the wOild in
regard to the silver question: In his at
tenpt to give the impression he has sue
ceedcd amazingly WELL and certainly to
an extent that would lead Americans To
conclude that it is easier for garrulOGs
blOwhard to get along in London than it is
in New York among keen business men.
He has become acquainted with many
very good people, received invitations to
many excellent dinners and at table has
ratified on in conversation with good
word for anybody except for the late Mr.
| Tildcn.
"BIG FINLAY's YARNS
are told in way that is intended to be
impressive, and To persons who do not
imagine how great fraud he is they have
been deceived rs scmi-Ollicial. One of
| his new-f0und friends, who was n warm
friend of Cardinal Manning, secured for
him the favor of an interview with the
Cardinal. One incident of his life in
London is asserted TO be rs true as it is base
in character. Being invited TO stop with n
friend, and being given u room in his
friends house opposite TO his library, he
inspected all the private letters of his host
read his letter books, got the names of indl-
viduals with whom the friend had confden-
tial relations, and then visited those
individuals to say that he was the friend 3
confidential attorney. The result was that
he nearly ruined his hosts business.
Among the other claims put forth by
Colonel" Flnlay. is one that he is the
special attorney for the Alaska Fur Com
pany, and that he is paid $1,000 year
for his services to that corporation.
The President, notwithstanding he had
told big" Finlay TO take the refusal Of
the Paris nsul-Generalship, is spoken Of
as "pig-headed." Secretary Rayard, who
has imposed upon him, according to his
own story, n delicate and important mis-
sion of inspection, is altogether too slow.
Secretary Manning, who has rs the Colos-
sal Finlay represents, also conferred duties
upon him, is described rs an accident.
Minister Phelps he is bound TO say, al-
though he is cousin Of the "Colonel's"
mother, is 4 IS. q. g." Consul-General
Waller, he represented, is indebted TO him
for having been nominated and elected
Governor of Connecticut, and yet he is re-
peating, with more or less inaccuracy, the
familiar story of Governor Waller's obscure
origin and distressing early life, story
very familiar to everybody who has read
anything about the genial Consul-General
at London.
HIS CAREER IN WASHINGTON.
Finlay's career in Washington dates from
the campaign of 1876. Hecame originally
from Detroit, Mich. He was pretty well
known in Chicago fifteen years ago. He
pretended to be an intimate friend of Will
bur F. Storey, late editor Of the Chicago
Times. Finlay is tall, broad shouldered,
heavy figured man, with a rather imposing
manner to those who are not familiar With
the ways of the world. His conversation
consisted of series ofmysteriOus whispers
concerning inside views. Finlay never had
any outside views about anything. He
acquired his title Of Colonel in combat be-
fore the Washington bars. In the CAM
paign of 1876 he went 20 Mr.. Tilden and
obtained employment about the Demo
cratic Committee headquarters. IThere ~
no doubt that he obtained this employment
through his alleged relationship with Will
bur F. Storey.
Finlay was actually sent TO Indiana to
look over the campaign in that State and
report. Hehad regular employment from
the Democratic Committee, but they very
early discovered his calibre and never in
trusted him with any work Of importance
But Finlay used the little that was given
him to its fullest extent. lie told every
where, in husky whispers, that he was
Mr.. Tilden's confidential agent, and that
he had disbursed for the old man great
sums. partly in Indiana. He (Finlay) was
the only man who had free access to the
Tiiden "bar'l" during that campaign.
Naturally he was much sought after by the
politicians of that time wherever he went.
In Indiana he was received as royal Po-